If you are like me, the first problem is placing that tiny body into a car seat. We had bought the best baby travel system we could find. The three-in-one feature of locking into the stroller, into the car, or just as an infant carrier was quite a bonus. When initially purchased, the infant seat seemed just right, but with the new baby in it, it seemed to have grown! My heart believed she was as safe if not safer in my arms than alone in a car seat! Amazingly, a little bit of logic by my husband finally and some laws reminded me she needed to be in the car seat.
Newborns tend to scrunch down into one corner of their car seats no matter how you initially place them in the seat. My husband calls it the “amoeba†stage. You can purchase additional padded support for your baby for use with the first weeks of "amoeba life". Once home, I was torn between resting and being with the baby. Add to that her endless hunger. It was quite challenging to find a place in our home for nursing while we were both learning the process. Trying different nursing positions is key.
Some people use ring slings, fabric carriers that allow you to carry the baby around with you. This can be a great way to position baby for nursing if you can find the right adjustment for you. I used my ring sling mainly as a great hands-free carrier. There was much trial and error, but eventually I found the rocking chair to be the best place for nursing. My baby needed changing every time she ate and often times in between her meals. Newborns seem to have an output capacity double their input.
I had chosen to use Fuzzi Bunz cloth diapers. The adjustable elastic really helped in the learning stage for me and my baby. Those early days of a “liquid only†diet produce some interesting diaper “issues.†Some of the biggest diaper challenges occurred on that first day. Have a few outfits ready for quick changes! Fastening cloth diapers was my main challenge. Of course they will not work at all if you do not fasten them quickly enough! Even though the first few days home are challenging, they are the beginning of an entirely new chapter.
Adaptability is the key to the first months. Every phase your child reaches will test you again. I found myself consistently calling upon all my resources sometimes just pretending to be as capable as my mother. One day I realized she had probably been pretending as well - that day I realized I was a parent too. Why did the staff let me leave the hospital with this helpless little creature? These were the thoughts I had the day baby and I came home from the hospital. Here I was, totally responsible for the health and well-being of this newborn who was so very different than the cherubic babies I had babysat long ago! The realization hit me all at once - I was the parent and was supposed to have all the answers.
I found that even after giving birth I still did not have much confidence in my parenting ability. Could I do this? It did not seem possible I could be as capable as she? The panic began to set in. I found that placing my baby into the car seat was quite a feat. We had bought the best baby travel system we could find. The convenience of having an infant seat that fit perfectly in my car or stroller was wonderful. The previously perfect infant seat seemed to have grown to huge proportions once our new baby was lost in it! My heart believed she was as safe if not safer in my arms than alone in a car seat! My husband and a little bit of logic managed to convince me to let go.
Since they have limited muscle control, newborns end up scrunched down into one corner of their car seat. This is a cute phase which lasts until baby gets some muscle tone and is more able to handle sitting. You can purchase additional padded support for your baby for use with the first weeks of "amoeba life". I so wanted to be with my new baby but also needed to rest as well. Add to that her endless hunger. It was quite challenging to find a place in our home for nursing while we were both learning the process.
Trying different nursing positions is key. Some people use ring slings, fabric carriers that allow you to carry the baby around with you. This can be a great way to position baby for nursing if you can find the right adjustment for you. My ring sling was a wonderful hands-free carrier. After some trial and error over several feedings, I found the rocking chair to be my best option for nursing. Babies need to have their diapers changed just about every time they eat, and even sometimes in between meals.
The output capacity of a newborn rivals even the most efficient factory. I had chosen to use Fuzzi Bunz cloth diapers. It was a good thing they fit snugly. It is surprising to observe the diapering issues which can result from a diet of only liquids." Most of the biggest diaper issues occurred in the first week. It is a good idea to have a few outfits ready for changing clothes you didn't expect to have to change right away! Cloth diapers were good but at first they only worked as well as my attempts to get them fastened.
And if you do not fasten them in time…they will not work at all! An amazing new chapter of your lives begins with the first day home. Constant shifts and changes become the norm. Parents are challenged with every stage their chilfren reach. I constantly called on all my resources, pretending to be as capable and in control as my mother. Then, one day, I realized she probably had pretended tooâ€"and then I knew I truly was a parent.
Maria Cummings is a mom that has devoted herself to helping kids and families in the community. As Manager of Bustling Baby, Maria enjoys sharing her experience of natural parenting with new parents and supports parents in finding the best natural baby products, such as Ellaroo baby slings and carriers.
